News Summary
Birmingham is set to open seven public pools this summer while grappling with a significant lifeguard shortage. Pools will open on a rotating schedule due to insufficient lifeguards, with the city actively hiring to bolster staffing. The first three pools are scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend. The city aims to enhance recruitment efforts by collaborating with the YMCA for lifeguard training and offering free training classes for local candidates in September. Safety and accessibility remain a priority as Birmingham works to engage the community.
Birmingham is gearing up to open seven of its public pools this summer, despite facing a significant lifeguard shortage. The parks and recreation department is actively hiring lifeguards to ensure safe water experiences for families in the community.
The initial three pools—Crestwood, Memorial Park, and Fountain Heights—are set to open on Memorial Day weekend. The other pools, including E.O. Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., McAlpin, and Underwood, will follow shortly after, bringing the total number of operational pools to seven out of Birmingham’s twelve.
Currently, the city employs 35 lifeguards but requires at least 15 additional lifeguards to fully operate all seven pools simultaneously. Due to the ongoing lifeguard shortage, the city plans to open the pools on a rotating schedule. This means that some pools might be available on certain days while others will open on alternate days, depending on lifeguard availability.
The lifeguard shortage is attributed largely to various certification hurdles that potential candidates encounter. The city aims to address this issue by covering the training costs for interested applicants, particularly focusing on individuals who are already proficient swimmers, which should expedite the certification process.
This ongoing shortage has been exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a decline in the number of trained lifeguards. Many individuals have sought other employment opportunities that offer higher pay. Last summer, only three pools—Memorial, Crestwood, and MLK Recreation centers—remained open due to inadequate lifeguard staffing, a challenge echoed across many recreation facilities.
To maintain safety and operational standards, at least six certified lifeguards are required on duty at each pool. In response to these operational needs, Birmingham’s Mayor has proposed a pay raise for lifeguards, increasing their hourly wage to $15.15. However, this adjustment has not yet yielded the desired uptick in recruitment numbers.
Neighborhood demand will also influence pool availability, as some pools may remain closed if there is insufficient interest from local residents. In an effort to boost both safety and accessibility, security measures are being implemented at certain locations due to past issues with vandalism and truancy.
In an initiative to further bolster lifeguard recruitment, Birmingham Parks and Recreation is collaborating with the YMCA. The partnership aims to train up to 1,500 lifeguards by the end of 2023. The YMCA’s established lifeguard training program has already successfully trained over 800 individuals, although many of these newly certified lifeguards do not reside within the city limits.
Future planning includes swim lessons directed at local residents to promote swimming confidence and safety throughout the community. Additionally, the Birmingham Parks and Recreation department will offer free lifeguard training classes aimed at local candidates starting in September, further facilitating the recruitment effort.
As Birmingham prepares to open its public pools this summer, the emphasis remains on ensuring safety, accessibility, and operational capacity in the face of staffing challenges. The collaborative efforts between city departments and community organizations highlight a commitment to providing a valuable resource for families, especially amid ongoing workforce hurdles.
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Additional Resources
- WBRC: Birmingham Open 7 of its 12 City Pools This Summer
- Wikipedia: Public Pool
- AL.com: Lifeguard Shortage in Birmingham City Pools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lifeguard
- CBS 42: City of Birmingham Hiring Lifeguards
- Google Search: Birmingham Lifeguard Shortage
- Bham Now: 14 Splash Pads to Visit This Summer
- Google News: Birmingham City Pools
- MSN: City of Birmingham Lifeguard Hiring
- Google Scholar: Lifeguard Training
